Corvette group plans anniversary show

Event marks 60th anniversary of the car

By JENNIFER KABBANY, Special to the U-T
| 3 p.m.April 30, 2013

An automobile exhibit at the Temecula Valley Musuem is dedicated to the life of Harley Earl, the first head of design at General Motors. He was the person who came up the idea of the "concept car" and was instrumental in the project that developed the Chevrolet Corvette.
— Don Boomer

An automobile exhibit at the Temecula Valley Musuem is dedicated to the life of Harley Earl, the first head of design at General Motors. He was the person who came up the idea of the "concept car" and was instrumental in the project that developed the Chevrolet Corvette.
— Don Boomer

The gleam and shine of American-made muscle cars will overtake Temecula this weekend as the annual Old Town Corvette Show rolls into town.

Members of Corvettes of Temecula Valley will celebrate the car’s 60th anniversary with the show on Sunday. Although the group puts on the event every year, this year marks a special anniversary for the car, said Steve Page, vice president of the group.

“A Corvette is the only sports car manufactured in the United States,” Page said. “It started in 1953.”

Corvette owners appreciate the beauty and originality of the car, as well as its American origins, he said.

In the past, more than 100 Corvette owners have participated from across Southern California as well as Arizona, Nevada and Northern California. Model years have ranged from 1954 to 2012, showing bone stock Corvette classics to wildly modified Corvette customs.

Participants can vote on their favorite Corvette at the show, including “Best Interior,” “Best Engine” and “Best of Show.”

Page said guests strolling around Old Town on Cinco de Mayo should stop by the show and vote for the “people’s choice” award as well as check out all the chrome and color on display.

The show takes place from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. in the parking lot behind Baily’s restaurant and The Stampede on Old Town Front Street.

“It’s a nice, laid-back atmosphere,” he said of the show. “And the people’s choice voting, any person walking along the street can come vote for their favorite. Just pick up a ballot and we’ll put it in the pot, too.”

Plus, it’s free for visitors.

“People can just walk in and see the cars -- it’s all free,” Page said, noting the show typically draws a decent-sized crowd as long as the weather is nice.

Proceeds from the show benefit the Wishes for Children Foundation. For information, call (619) 818-4612.

Entry forms for Corvette owners are available at www.corvettesoftv.com. The cost is $35 to enter the car, plus another $5 for a T-shirt.